Rain Dampens Hopes for ABC Action
by Nick Gima
Ashland, WI, May 17 -- Several heavy storm fronts moved through the Chequamegon Bay area late Saturday afternoon and dumped enough rain to soak the ABC Raceway, and with the possibility of more precipitation in the forecast track officials cancelled the Armed Forces Night at the Races program.
The program, which was scheduled to recognize members of the nation’s military and was to include special ceremonies honoring new recruits, will be rescheduled.
The next action slated at the 3/8th-mile red clay oval will be on Saturday, May 25, with a program sponsored by Xtreme Sign & Graphix of Ashland. All six ABC divisions - WISSOTA-sanctioned modifieds, super stocks, street stocks and Midwest modifieds, plus the track’s own six-cylinders and pure stocks - will run their hot laps at 6:15 pm, with the first green flag of the night dropping at 7.
The ABC Raceway is located 3-1/2 miles south of Ashland on State Highway 13 and one mile west on Butterworth Road. "Race Night" will air Saturday on WBSZ, 93.3 FM, from 4:30-6 pm with up-to-date track news and weather information.
ABC to Honor Military Personel Saturday
by Nick Gima
Ashland, WI -- Fans braved less-than-desirable weather for the ABC Raceway’s season opener last Saturday night, but they saw exciting stock car racing action as the Ashland track was the only one locally to get its season underway.
This Saturday the Raceway will host night number two of the 2008 season, and many of those same fans and more will look forward to somewhat better weather and more of the same action.
As a special treat, the track will honor members of the United States Armed Forces and National Guard by offering any member of our country’s military free admission. Special recognition will be paid to those in attendance who have served in the Armed Forces.
"This is our way of showing our appreciation to those who have served our nation in the ultimate way," stated Raceway president Kurt Beeksma. "Without their commitment to what they do, we wouldn’t be able to do the things we like to do, like go to the races."
Last weekend the northern Wisconsin speed plant kicked off an historical chapter by hosting its first-ever points-paying night for the WISSOTA Midwest modifieds.
The addition of the popular division was enjoyed by nineteen drivers and all the fans, who witnessed as Duluth’s Greg Chesley won the landmark feature, as well as his heat, and become the track’s first-ever Mid-mod points leader.
Chesley also becme the fifth different driver to win a Mid-mod feature at Ashland. The track had previously hosted four special-event visits by the economy-oriented class since 2006.
The Mid-mods joined the five other classes which have been regular weekly fare at ABC over the past six summers.
In WISSOTA modified action Robby Bunkelman of Abbostford swept heat and feature action, as did Marshfield’s Curt Myers in the WISSOTA super stocks. Three-time former ABC WISSOTA street stock champ Larry Haderly of Marengo returned to his dominant ways by taking both the heat and feature in that division Saturday.
Scott Ovaska of Marengo collected his first career feature win in the six-cylinder portion of the show, after first-across-the-line Greg Jaeger was disqualified for the apparent use of an illegal tire.
Tim Carbon of Highbridge claimed the main-event win in the pure stocks at Ashland last weekend, extend his string to four straight feature wins dating back to last August.
Saturday’s race program will begin with hot laps at 6:15 pm, while green-flag racing action starts at 7. "Race Night," hosted by local radio personality Skip Hunter, will air live from 4:30-6 pm with up-to-date track news and weather information on WBSZ, 93.3 FM. The facility is located 3-1/2 miles south of Ashland on State Highway 13 and one mile west on Butterworth Road. For raceday information call (715) 682-4990. | 